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Police chase ends when man falls from hiding place in ceiling

Felony warrant had been issued for Rayton in December

Germaul Rayton, 20, of Topeka, was booked Thursday into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with multiple felony offenses. The police search for him ended when he tumbled from a ceiling in an apartment where he was attempting to hide, police officials said.

A Topeka man was arrested in connection with multiple felony offenses Thursday after falling through parts of an apartment building in which police said he was attempting to hide from officers.

Police spokeswoman Kristen Veverka said officers were driving about 4 p.m. Thursday near S.E. 6th and Wear when they saw Germaul Labeeb-Lashaud Rayton, 20, driving in a blue vehicle along S.E. 6th. A felony warrant had been issued for Rayton’s arrest.

Officers attempted to turn around to follow Rayton, but by the time traffic had cleared, Rayton had sped off toward the south, Veverka said. Officers found the blue vehicle had crashed at S.E. 10th and Sherman and was unoccupied.

“While officers were looking in the area for Rayton, they saw him as a passenger of a white pickup truck leaving the area,” Veverka said.

Officers followed the pickup to an apartment in the 2100 block of S.E. 11th Terrace, where they then set up a perimeter around the building.

Veverka said that while officers were setting up the perimeter, they heard loud crashing noises coming from the building’s attic.

“It was discovered that Rayton had entered the attic from an apartment and crashed through several firewalls that separated the apartments,” she said. “He also broke a hole through the roof of the building in a possible attempt to escape.”

After crashing through the firewalls, Veverka said, Rayton broke into another apartment. He was apprehended there by K-9 officers without further incident.

Rayton was booked into the Shawnee County Jail about 8 p.m. Thursday in connection with the felony warrant, aggravated burglary, burglary, criminal damage to property valued at more than $1,000, interference with a law enforcement officer, criminal threat and aggravated assault, all felony offenses.

He also was booked in connection with misdemeanor charges of battery and traffic charges, including reckless driving, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance.

According to Shawnee County District Court records, Rayton made a first appearance in court Friday in connection with the felony warrant. Records indicate the warrant was issued for his arrest Dec. 17 in connection with charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threat, criminal damage to property and battery.